Golf Tee Bristle Cap

ABSTRACT

A device is provided for removable attachment to a golf tee to reduce the amount of friction between a golf ball and golf tee. The device includes a base and several groups of bristles. A golf tee is inserted into the base member and drive into the ground with the spike end of the golf tee. A golf ball is then supported upon the groups of bristles and hit with a golf club.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application for a patent claims priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/506,862 as filed Sep. 30, 2003.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to tees for golfing, and moreparticularly to an attachment for golf tees in order to substantiallyincrease energy transfer to a golf ball when struck by a golf club.

Typically, amateur and professional golf players alike abide by therules of golf as promulgated by the Royal and Ancient (R&A) in St.Andrews, Scotland and by the United States Golf Association (USGA).

Rule 11 of the USGA permits certain situations under which a player may“tee” a golf ball. According to the USGA, a “tee” is “a device designedto raise the ball off the ground. It must not be longer than 4 inches(101.6 mm) and it must not be designed or manufactured in such a waythat it could indicate the line of play or influence the movement of theball.”

A standard golf tee is usually a small wooden, plastic or rubber spikehaving a shallow concave surface on which to place a golf ball, whereinthe concave surface is opposite the spike end of the tee. Such a golftee is driven by hand into the ground with the spike end of the tee. Agolf ball is positioned on the opposing concave portion, and then thegolf ball is driven forward towards the golf hole by being hit by a golfclub.

One of the most common situations under which a player tees a golf ballis at the start of a new hole. Thus, a player may be permitted to tee agolf ball a minimum of eighteen times per round of golf, assuming acomplete round of golf. The first shot may be critical to the play ofthe remainder of the hole based on the distance and placement of the hitgolf ball, and as such, many technical innovations have been made toimprove longer and more accurate golf shots.

Most technical innovations in the game of golf are directed to theadvancement in golf clubs and golf balls. However, some advancementshave been attempted in golf tees as well.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,822 to Kolodney, et al. (hereinafter “Kolodney”),describes a golf tee having a stem and connected head, wherein the headincludes a plurality of holes around the periphery of the head. Aplurality of groups of bristles are retained in the holes to provide acircular brush member above the head of the golf tee. The Kolodney golftee limits the play options for a player. That is, for example, theKolodney golf tee requires trimming the groups of bristles in certainsituations in order to be able to properly hit the ball. The Kolodneygolf tee is also comprised of a plastic material that is notbiodegradable and can damage mower blades. Plastic golf tees are alsonotorious for breaking more easily than wooden tees, and thus, cannot bere-used as easily as wooden tees.

U.S. patent application Publication No. 2004/0067802 to Salsman(hereinafter “Salsman”), describes a golf tee having a ball supportsurface comprising a low surface material such as, for example, afluorochemical or flouropolymer such as polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE,sold under the brand name TEFLON®), in order to reduce the frictionalresistance of the tee against the golf ball when the golf ball is struckby a swinging golf club. The Salsman golf tee may also comprise threeprojections on the support surface to raise the golf ball. The Salsmangolf tee is a molded or machined plastic or a coated wooden tee.

The present invention present invention overcomes the deficiencies ofknown golf tees by permitting golf players to have the advantages ofwooden golf tees, without the environmental and machine damage ofnon-wooden tees, and at a more cost effective level.

SUMMARY

The various exemplary embodiments of the present invention includes aremovable golf tee cap, comprising a base member and three or morebristle packets attached to the base member. The bristle packets areattached to the base member via one or more support holes, and thebristle packets extend upwards. The base member comprises a hallowsubstantially central core, one or more support holes, and one or morenotches extending from a top of the base towards a bottom of the basemember.

The various exemplary embodiments of the present invention furtherincludes a method of hitting a golf ball from a tee. The method includesinserting a golf tee through a hallow substantially central core of aremovable golf tee bristle cap. The removable golf tee bristle capcomprises a base member and three or more bristle packets attached tothe base member via one or more support holes, and the bristle packetsextend upwards. The base member comprises a hallow substantially centralcore, one or more support holes, and one or more notches extending froma top of the base towards a bottom of the base member. The ground isthen penetrated with a spike of the golf tee attached to the removablegolf tee bristle cap such that the bristle packets extend upwards awayfrom the ground. A golf ball is then placed on the bristle packets andthen hit off the bristle packets with a golf club.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, which willbecome more apparent as the description proceeds, are described in thefollowing detailed description in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a cut-away view along line A-A of FIG. 1 ofa base member according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a top view of a base member according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a cut-away side view of a typical golf teefitted with a base member according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a golf ball being teed on a typical golftee fitted with a base member according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The exemplary embodiments of the present invention includes anattachment for a golf tee comprising several packets of bristlesextending upward from a base member attached to a golf tee.

FIG. 1 represents an exemplary embodiment according to the presentinvention. The golf tee cap 100 of the represented exemplary embodimentcomprises a base member 110 and three bristle packets 140. The bristlepackets extend upward from support holes 135 in the base member top 114.Although the material comprising the base member may not bebiodegradable, if the attached golf tee is broken, the base member isable to be retrieved, removed from the broken golf tee, and reused onanother golf tee.

The base member is comprised of a molded plastic that is soft andpliable enough that it will not cause damage to lawn mower blades, yethard and strong enough to support the bristle packets upon which a golfball is rested.

It is preferred that the base member be pliable enough to accommodate avariety of differently sized golf tee heads.

As shown in FIG. 4, a golf tee 200 is inserted into the central core 120of the base member 110, with the shaft 205 and spike 210 of the golf teeextending downward away from the base member bottom 112.

The golf tee 200 rests against the central core walls 122 whichsubstantially surround the golf tee shaft and head 215. The golf teehead is also held in place by a retaining lip 118 which preferably restson the top of the golf tee head. The retaining lip may be segmented orwhole around the central core at the base member top.

As the base member of various exemplary embodiments essentially wrapsaround and securely snaps to a golf tee, and as golf tees heads, shaftsand spikes come in a variety of sizes, the base member according to thevarious exemplary embodiments of the present invention should beflexible enough to accommodate the variety of golf tee components.However, the base member is preferably also strong enough to not fly offthe golf tee when struck by a clubface of a golf club.

In a preferred embodiment, the base member is comprised entirely or inpart of at least one of plastic, plastic-like material or plasticcomposite.

To assist in and ease the attachment of the present invention to a golftee, in a preferred embodiment, the base member further comprises anotch 125. Such a notch provides additional pliability to the basemember such that it can more easily accommodate and extend over largergolf tee heads. A notch also allows one to part the base member toremove a golf tee from the base member if desired, for example, if thegolf tee should be broken when hit.

The notch of various exemplary embodiments preferably is an open regionof the base member. That is, for example, that there is no materialcomprising the base member in the area of the notch. It is preferredthat a depth of the notch be from the central core to the base memberexterior 115. The notch is preferably about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm wide.In a more preferred embodiment, the notch is about 1 mm wide.

The notch of the various exemplary embodiments according to the presentinvention extends substantially from the base member top 114 to the basemember bottom 114.

In an exemplary embodiment, the notch does not extend fully from thebase member top to the base member bottom in order to substantiallylimit the golf tee bristle cap from becoming dislodges and flying off atattached golf tee when struck with a golf club.

In a preferred embodiment, the notch extends about 50 percent to about95 percent of the distance between the base member top and the basemember bottom.

In a more preferred embodiment, the notch extends about 60 percent toabout 90 percent of the distance between the base member top and thebase member bottom.

The base member further comprises three or more support holes 135 in thebase member top 114. The bristle packets 140 are attached to the basemember in the support holes. Attachment of the bristle packets to thebase member may include, for example, an adhesive or molding the basemember to the bristle packets.

Preferably, the number of support holes and the number of bristlepackets are the same.

The bristle packets may extend at an angle of about 135 degrees andabout 225 degrees from the stake and spike of an attached golf tee.Preferably, the bristle packets extend upward at an angle of about 160degrees and about 190 degrees from the stake and spike of an attachedgolf tee.

In the various exemplary embodiments, individual bristles of the bristlepackets may be of any length. Preferably, the individual bristlescomprising the bristle packets are of a length such that the distancebetween the spike of an attached golf tee and an end of the bristlesfurthest from the base member is four inches or less. Such a lengthwould allow the golf tee to be within regulation length as set forth byUSGA rules.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the length ofthe bristles comprising the bristle packets is about {fraction (5/16)}to about 1½ of an inch above the base member top.

The bristles comprising the bristle packets according to the variousexemplary embodiments of the present invention are comprised of amaterial that is sturdy enough to support a golf ball above the basemember top, but also flexible enough to relent when the golf ball isstruck by a golf club.

The number of bristles per bristle packet of the various exemplaryembodiments according to the present invention depends on the materialof which the bristles are composed.

The base member of various exemplary embodiments may further comprise ofone or more nodes 130 extending out from the central core of the basemember. The support holes may be located substantially center of thenodes, if present. See, for example, FIG. 3. The notch would then belocated between two adjacent nodes. Preferably, the number of nodes,support holes and bristle packets are the same.

In the various exemplary embodiments, the number of bristles packets isabout 3 to about 6. In a more preferred embodiment, the number ofbristle packets is 3.

The base member top of various exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention is preferably substantially flat.

The base member 110 of various exemplary embodiments further comprises acentral core 120 that extends substantially through the base member 110from the base member top 114 to the base member bottom 112. Across-section of the central core may be of any geometric symmetrical orasymmetrical shape. It is preferred, however, that the cross section ofthe central core be circular.

The central core of the various exemplary embodiments is conical inshape, that is, narrower at the base member bottom than at the basemember top. See, for example, FIG. 2. A conical shape allows for a golftee to be inserted into the base member from the base member top, butnot allow the golf tee to travel completely through the base member.See, for example, FIG. 4. The conical shape of the central coresubstantially hinders the golf tee, which is typically shaped to benarrow at the bottom in order to be inserted into the ground, and widerat the top in order to support a golf ball.

The diameter of the central core of the various exemplary embodiments issized to permit the shaft and spike of a golf tee to pass through thebase member bottom. In a preferred embodiment, the central core is about¼ inch or less.

The base member according to the various exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention may also extend the life of a golf tee. The basemember may absorb and dissipate energy transferred when hit by a golfclub. Further, the base member is more likely to be hit directly by agolf club than the attached golf tee is, thereby extending the life ofthe golf tee by not breaking the golf tee by hitting it with a golfclub.

FIG. 5 shows a hand 300 positioning in the ground a golf tee 200attached to a golf tee bristle cap 100 according to the variousexemplary embodiments of the present invention. A golf ball 250 issupported by the bristle packets 140 of the golf tee bristle cap. As thegolf tee is inserted into the ground (not shown), the golf ball may beused to push down on the golf ball bristle cap and golf tee. After thegolf tee is inserted into the ground at the desired location, the handreleases the golf ball, golf ball bristle cap and attached golf tee. Thebristle packets will then lift the ball up and away from the base membersuch that the only points of friction on the golf ball will be thebristle packets of the golf tee bristle cap.

Three bristle packets, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,evenly spaced from one another at 120 degrees limits the contact andfriction on the golf ball such that when the golf ball is struck with agolf club, a greater amount of energy is transferred to the golf ballbecause the coefficient of friction between the three bristle packetsaccording to the present invention and the golf ball is minimize overother designs. Because the energy to overcome the coefficient offriction is minimized, more energy transferred to the golf ball when hitcan be expended moving the golf ball away from the golf tee and golfclub.

While this invention has been described in conjunction with the specificembodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives,modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in theart. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of the invention as setforth above are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Variouschanges may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

1. A removable golf tee cap, comprising: a base member, comprising: ahallow substantially central core; one or more support holes; and one ormore notches extending from a top of the base towards a bottom of thebase member; and three or more bristle packets attached to the basemember via the one or more support holes and extending upwards.
 2. Theremovable golf tee bristle according to claim 1, wherein a cross-sectionof the central core is circular.
 3. The removable golf tee bristleaccording to claim 1, wherein the base member further comprises one ormore nodes on the base member.
 4. The removable golf tee bristleaccording to claim 3, wherein the one or more support holes are locatedon the one or more nodes.
 5. The removable golf tee bristle according toclaim 1, wherein the cap comprises three bristle packets.
 6. Theremovable golf tee bristle according to claim 1, wherein each bristlepacket extends upward at an angle of about 70 degrees to about 100degrees relative to a horizon.
 7. The removable golf tee bristle capaccording to claim 1, wherein the base member is comprised entirely orin part of at least one of plastic, plastic-like material or plasticcomposite.
 8. The removable golf tee bristle cap according to claim 1,further comprising a retaining lip around the base member top at thehallow substantially central core.
 9. The removable golf tee bristle capaccording to claim 1, a length of the bristles comprising the bristlepackets is about {fraction (5/16)} to about 1 ½ of an inch above the topof the base member.
 10. The removable golf tee bristle cap according toclaim 1, wherein the one or more notches is 1 mm wide.
 11. The removablegolf tee bristle cap according to claim 1, wherein the notch extendsabout 50 percent to about 95 percent of a distance between the basemember top and the base member bottom.
 12. The removable golf teebristle cap according to claim 1, wherein the bristle packets areattached to the base member via an adhesive.
 13. The removable golf teebristle cap according to claim 1, wherein a distance between a spike ofa golf tee inserted and attached to the golf tee bristle cap and a topof the bristle packets is four inches or less.
 14. A removable golf teebristle cap, comprising: a base member, comprising: a hallowsubstantially central core; three to six support holes; and one notchextending from a base member top towards a base member bottom; and threeto six bristle packets attached to the base member via the support holesand extending upwards.
 15. The removable golf tee bristle cap accordingto claim 14, wherein there are three bristle packets.
 16. The removablegolf tee bristle cap according to claim 14, further comprising aretaining lip around the base member top at the hallow substantiallycentral core.
 17. A method of hitting a golf ball from a tee,comprising: inserting a golf tee through a hallow substantially centralcore of a removable golf tee bristle cap comprising: a base member,comprising: the hallow substantially central core; one or more supportholes; and one or more notches extending from a base member top towardsa base member bottom; and three or more bristle packets attached to thebase member via the one or more support holes and extending upwards;penetrating ground with a spike of the golf tee attached to theremovable golf tee bristle cap such that the bristle packets extendupwards away from the ground; placing a golf ball on the bristlepackets; and hitting the golf ball off the bristle packets with a golfclub.
 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the placing the golfball on the bristle packets is before penetrating the ground.
 19. Themethod according to claim 17, wherein the base member is supported bythe golf tee by a retaining lip around the base member top at the hallowsubstantially central core.